Contents

About the course

The PGCE INSPIRE is taught in partnership with Imperial College London.

This course will prepare you to teach your chosen STEM subject in Secondary schools. The taught element is 36 weeks over a 9 month period. You will spend approximately a third of the year training at the university and two thirds developing your teaching skills in two different schools.

Your course will be based on the latest research and you will be encouraged to reflect on how this impacts your own teaching.

You will be introduced to the principles, research and theory on which good classroom practice is based. Activities that might be included during your degree include modelling, role-play, lectures, seminars, discussion, school/educational setting visits and evaluation of classroom-based activities and resources.

You will be assessed in two main ways: academic assignments and assessment of your teaching. Each of your modules is based on research which will enhance the education of your pupils as you will develop as a teacher. You will complete your own research projects which will help you develop as a teacher.

There are three modules: Subject Pedagogy, Professional Practice and Research and Enquiry in Education. Assessments will be:

Subject Pedagogy. You will be assessed by an individual presentation to an audience (50% of your mark) and a 2,000 word essay (50%)

Professional Practice. You will be assessed by an individual presentation which links theory and practice. You will use your evidence from professional practice to demonstrate that you have a critical understanding of a specific area in learning and assessment theories. This will be related to your subject or specified age range.

Research and Enquiry in Education. You will be assessed by either one 4,000 word essay (100% of your mark) or individual presentation (50%) and a 2,000 word literature review (50%)

You will be taught and supported by age-specific and subject experts with extensive experience in schools and other educational settings. In school, you will be supported by subject and professional mentors. Your teaching practice will be assessed against the national Teachers’ Standards.

You will also have access to the university’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where you will find detailed information on your academic assignments and curriculum updates.

Interview process

Your PGCE interview will take place at Imperial College, London. You will take part in an assessment day and may also make a school visit.

How school placements work

Your placements will be in two different partner schools in London. Placements are arranged by Imperial College, London.

The placement will allow you to put into practice your learning from the academic modules. Your University tutors will visit you regularly on placement and you will have school-based professional and subject mentors.

Your placement school will depend on your subject specialism and age-phase. You will complete two block placements which cover two-thirds of your PGCE year. Your two schools will provide you with contrasting experience of teaching different age groups and school sizes/catchment areas.

You will be mentored in school by a school mentor. Mentors take part in CCCU’s Mentor Development Programme which is based on the National Standards for school-based Initial Teacher Training mentors. You will also continue to receive support from your University tutors whilst on placement.

You will be monitored as progress towards meeting the standards for teaching as prescribed by the current Government, and you will receive formative feedback and advice via lesson observations and meetings, to enable you to meet your targets.

Your placement will provide you with a range of learning opportunities which could include formal training with other student teachers or newly qualified teachers (NQTs), one-to-one tuition and whole staff training.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

International students

£12,430

In addition to the tuition fee, there are some additional costs which you will need to budget for. You will need to purchase your own textbooks. You will pay for your own travel costs to your other sites and placements. You may be able to claim back part of the placement travel costs from the University if you meet the specific criteria.

You will be expected to pay any library fees or fines you incur and for any printing or photocopying you do.

You can attend your graduation ceremony for free. You will need to pay for robe hire, photography and guest tickets.

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £28,000

a bursary of £26,000

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in Physics or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

You will need at least a Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant subject area to gain entry to any pathway in the PGCE INSPIRE Programme.

You will need English and Maths at GCSE level (minimum grade C/grade 4). If you hold a Key Skills or Functional Skills qualification instead of GCSE, we can offer you a GCSE equivalency test.

Personal qualities

We are looking for enthusiastic, resilient teacher trainees. You will have good communication skills. You will have a passion and commitment for working with young people.

You will be able to show your ability to reflect on classroom experience and your understanding of the teaching profession.

Previous experience of teaching is not required. You would benefit from having a clear awareness of the UK system. You may consider gaining knowledge of how pupils learn to help you in your application.

Other requirements

You will to take and pass the government’s QTS skills tests in literary and numeracy.

You will need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health check carried out through the university.

About the training provider

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is one of the largest and well-respected providers of postgraduate initial teacher education in the country. We offer a wide range of programmes leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for those wishing to teach in primary and secondary schools and a variety of qualifications for those wishing to teach in further education sector. Ofsted has praised us for our high employment rates and said that CCCU is making a significant contribution to teaching in the local area.

Our courses offer a blend of subject knowledge and theory which is directly linked to school-based teaching and learning. We aim to help you become a confident, high-achieving teacher. You will develop a wide range of strategies for supporting children and young people’s learning to help them maximise their learning.

Your learning will be underpinned by the latest research so you will receive up-to-date provision. You will be supported by tutors and mentors who are all qualified teachers. Our students regularly comment on how friendly and supportive the university and course team are.

Our range of placements mean that you will gain a wide experience of education and learning in different settings. You will have an excellent support network both in school and at university. Our most recent Ofsted report (2014) praises our excellent pastoral care and personalised support.

Training with disabilities and other needs

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is committed to ensuring that you can succeed and reach your full potential. We have a range of support services to help you in your studies both during your application and during your course.

Depending on your need, we can offer special arrangements such as accessible interview rooms, access to a hearing loop, use of a laptop to complete written tests and information printed on coloured paper.

If you are dyslexic or believe you might be, we can help you with dyslexic support which includes screening and learning support. Examples of support we have provided for dyslexic students in the past include extra time for exams and consideration for spelling and grammar.

A dedicated team of mental health practitioners can help you with any mental-health related queries. You are able to access support services including resources and techniques to help with anxiety, stress and depression. They also refer students for counselling both within the University and externally. If you have been diagnosed with a long-term psychological condition, the team can help you access further support which include help with accessing funding and tailored Learning Support Plans

Support and advice

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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